Exploding genre has being a great insight to the theory and complexities of genre in film.  Each week we were able to take a look at a different genre and have a film screened that either adhered to or  challenged the conventions and tropes of that particular genre. The genres which we focused on throughout the semester were:

• War
• Western
• Romantic Comedy
• Science fiction
• Horror
• Musical
• Film noir
• ‘The Bottled Drama’
• Vampire film
• Action
• Pastiche/parody

My favourite film screenings from the course have been 1986 Aliens from our Gender, Genre, Sci-fi week and the 2013 Coherence film which was screened for The bottled drama week. Honourable mention also goes to the 2012 horror comedy film Cabin in the Woods.

In the first few weeks as well as the screening, one of the classes each week was utilised in improving our practical abilities, including an editing and camera workshop. This was particularly useful for those who hadn’t used the software and equipment before and also helped those who were able to increase our knowledge.

As part of our ongoing exploration of genre, we created 3 sketches throughout the semester. Each was to explore a particular genre and explore a question or idea about that genre. The sketches were a tool for experimentation of the genre as well as allowing us to create practical work. With each practical sketch we also wrote an accompanying exegesis, which discussed what we explored within our sketch. This was a good way to express our ideas and help demonstrate what we were trying to explore in our genre sketch.

My first sketch was a 15 photo story exploring gender in the action genre, which utilised a female figure in a fight scene. My second sketch explored the use of saturated colour in horror film. My last sketch was a series of sketches. 3 individual sketches were made with the same storyline, each presented in a different genre; horror, action and romantic comedy. This was to explore the way narrative conveys genre and whether other cinematic elements are needed to communicate genre.

What I liked about the studio is that it was very organised, Dan had a document which set out our class plans and showed the screening and discussion topics for each week for the whole semester. It also listed upcoming assignments and what they would be and when they were due. I find this particularly helpful in planing out the assignments and helped us form a ‘genre trajectory’.

Overall I really enjoyed coming to this class each week and I liked learning more about genres I do not usually gravitate towards. Dan was a great tutor and his enthusiasm and knowledge were helpful in developing our projects and ideas.

Accompanied is my favourite sketch which was sketch #2.  It is a 3 minute video sketch which explores the use of bright saturated colour in horror film, inspired by David Argento’s  1997 film Suspiria.